Key Takeaways
- The SEC continues to reverse years of anti-crypto litigation and regulatory oversight.
- Over 300 financial institutions have adopted Ripple and XRP tech.
- Under new regulations, XRP will fall under CFTC jurisdiction, not the SEC.
After five years of costly courtroom battles, the case between Ripple (XRP) and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has officially come to a close as the regulator officially agreed to settle the case.
It comes as the U.S. moves ahead with President Donald Trump’s pro-crypto agenda, which may not have been possible if the SEC succeeded in setting a legal precedent against Ripple under the former Chair, Gary Gensler.
Back to Work
SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce, “Crypto Mom,” has reflected on the closure of the years-long legal dispute between the regulator and Ripple.
She describes it as a “welcome development for many reasons,” which includes being able to redirect time, energy, and resources away from litigation, and toward establishing clear regulations for crypto.
In response, the SEC’s new Chairman, Paul Atkins, backed her up, saying that with the courtroom drama behind them, they can get to drafting policy and building innovation-friendly and consumer-protecting laws around crypto.
Ripple’s Chief Legal Officer, Stuart Alderoty, offered his gratitude to the new leadership.
With all the pieces in place, the Trump administration is marching forward with sweeping, pro-crypto reforms that the industry had been crying out for during the hawkish Gensler era.
Now, having passed the CLARITY Act for digital asset markets, the GENIUS Act for stablecoins, and an anti-central bank digital currency (CBDC) bill, the industry is gearing up for breakout success in 2026.
Ripple Up
The news sent the XRP token surging upward to a weekly high of $3.35, which follows a month after the token broke into a new all-time high (ATH) of $3.64.
Ripple, which is primarily developing blockchain and crypto products for financial institutions such as banks, stands to benefit massively from the U.S.’s renewed approach to crypto.
Soon, rules will be in place that give not just crypto firms, but banks and institutions more flexibility when it comes to how they want to use crypto and blockchain tech.
For example, under the CLARITY Act, XRP will come under the jurisdiction of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) instead of the SEC.
This, paired with the declaration that XRP isn’t a security, now means that financial institutions can begin adopting the tech as it was intended to be used.
In addition, Ripple has a U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin, RLUSD, which it launched in December 2024, and is fully compliant with the GENIUS Act’s requirements, giving it a first-mover edge alongside its brand recognition.
Eddie is a gaming and crypto writer at CCN. Covering the often weird and wonderful world of Web3 with an adoring, but skeptical eye.
Prior to CCN, Eddie has spent the past seven years working his way through the crypto, finance, and technology industry. He began with PR and journalism with Bitcoin PR Buzz and BitcoinNews.com, eventually working his way to become a copywriter with a dozen firms, including the likes of Polkadot before returning to journalism in 2023.
Having studied Radio production and journalism at University in the UK, Eddie spent a few years making podcasts and presenting on a local London radio station as he built up his writing chops.
A lifelong skateboarder, Eddie can often be found at the skatepark or touring the streets looking for something new to try. That, or kicking back playing JRPGs on his original PSP.
